A new air-stable zinc complex based on a 1,2-phenylene-diimino-2-cyanoacrylate ligand as an efficient catalyst of the epoxide–CO2 coupling

Abstract

A novel zinc complex based on a diethyl 1,2-phenylene-diimino-2-cyanoacrylate ligand is a very efficient catalyst in the conversion of epoxides with CO₂ to organic carbonates, in the case of propylene carbonate also under mild reaction conditions. Using cyclohexene oxide leads to the formation of alternating aliphatic polycarbonates in good yields.